Abstract: A system and method for teaching pronunciation and reading uses a color coded text as a teaching tool. The color coded text passage has a first unique color coding applied to all vowel letters and letters having vowel-like pronunciation, and a second unique color coding applied to all consonants having nonstandard pronunciations. The colors used for vowels are selected based on the presence of the same vowel sound in the word used for the particular color. A computer system is programmed for use by a user having an understanding of proper pronunciation to convert standard black and white text into color coded text. A dictionary of previously coded words is searched to identify any words which are present in the text, and such words are converted to their color coded form. The user converts all uncoded words by selecting letters in each word in turn and applying the appropriate color coding using a color coding menu which is displayed on the screen.